a12 air cleaner bases?

So, I have here pics of my original a12 base that came on my roadrunner. I was on ebay and found this other base listed as tripower and got a real good deal on it.

After some serious comparisons, it really seems as though the base has been factory trimmed in a trim die. The edges are too even and smooth to be done by hand.

Also, the transition radius on the original a12 base thats at the front and back centerline and meets the pan area is not as smooth and crisp as the other base thats trimmed.

is it possible these bases were offered over he counter or part of hustle stuff parts?

closer view....

I've never seen a stock base that looks like the one on the right. All the ones I've seen have had a lip of some sort around the base to seal to the cold air assembly, etc..

I have the old Hustle Stuff catalogs and have never seen one of those listed.

In the past three or so years, ive seen a few of these come up on eBay.

Or maybe the guy's been trying to sell that one for three years !!

I have never listed this one anywhere that I picked with lid a couple years ago.
It is like yours but definately a cut piece, not hacked but cut nice.
I'm sure they were never offered by Chrysler like this.

I imagine if someone were dropping one of these 6-pack motors into anything other than what it belongs in they might find the added material "ugly" for their purpose and would trim it off to be more aesthetically appealing. And I would imagine it happened more than once.

No. One was obviosly in a fire. One painted blue, and this one. I know most were probably trimmed down but this one seems unusually well done. No burrs, sharps, distortion, grinding marks, etc.

Quote:

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unusually well done

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And you don't think a lot of people are capable of that ?!?!?!